The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stepped into the India-Bangladesh venue issue for the 2026 T20 World Cup, offering its grounds as an alternative. The move comes after Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the tournament, pushing the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC). There is no official word yet from the ICC or the PCB, but the development adds a new twist to the growing dispute.PCB signals readiness to host Bangladesh matchesAccording to a report by Pakistani news outlet Geo News, the PCB, led by Mohsin Naqvi, has informed the ICC about its willingness to host Bangladesh’s matches if needed. The report said Pakistan’s offer is on the table if venues in Sri Lanka are not available.
PCB sources quoted by Geo News said Pakistan has formally communicated its readiness to step in after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made it clear that it would not send its team to India for the World Cup.
Bangladesh’s refusal puts ICC in a tight spotThe situation escalated after the BCB declined to tour India for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The board cited security concerns and sought clarity from the ICC on match venues. The BCB has said it is still waiting for the ICC’s response to its request.
The BCB stated that the decision was taken “following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India.”
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IPL fallout adds to the tensionThe venue issue comes against the backdrop of rising cricketing tensions between India and Bangladesh. The trigger was IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders leaving out Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the 2026 season, despite buying him for Rs 9.2 crore in the mini auction.
Following that decision, Bangladesh banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League. This marked the first time IPL telecasts have been banned in Bangladesh since the league began in 2008.India-Bangladesh World Cup Row: What happens nextWith less than a month left for the T20 World Cup to begin, confusion still hangs over where Bangladesh will play its matches. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remain stuck in a tense disagreement over venues, turning what started as a security concern into a wider cricketing standoff. As Bangladesh continues to push for matches to be moved out of India, the ICC and co-host BCCI are now scanning alternative options within the country itself.Bangladesh pushes for Sri Lanka shift The BCB has written multiple letters to the ICC, asking for all of Bangladesh’s matches to be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. The board has raised concerns about player safety amid strained political ties between India and Bangladesh and has clearly stated that it is unwilling to tour India under the current situation.
However, a report by Cricbuzz said the ICC is not keen on agreeing to a last-minute relocation. With the tournament set to open on February 7, moving matches across borders at this stage poses major logistical and scheduling challenges.ICC and BCCI explore Indian alternatives Instead of shifting games to Sri Lanka, the ICC and BCCI are looking at other Indian cities as backup venues. According to the same Cricbuzz report, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have been approached to assess feasibility.
Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram have emerged as possible hosts for Bangladesh’s matches if Kolkata and Mumbai are ruled out. While officials from the associations were not immediately available for comment, sources indicate both bodies have shown readiness to step in if required.
Chepauk already features as a confirmed World Cup venue and is scheduled to host seven matches, including a high-profile India versus Australia Super 8 clash. TNCA officials have reportedly assured organisers that hosting additional fixtures would be manageable, citing the availability of eight pitches at the stadium.
Original schedule thrown into doubt As per the original fixture list, Bangladesh were set to face West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 in Kolkata, before travelling to Mumbai to play Nepal on February 17. Those plans began to unravel after the BCCI directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.